Dittany of Crete

Dittany of Crete is a very rare herb that only grows wild on the island of Crete, but was considered by Madame Blavatsky (one of the founders of Theosophy) to have greater magical virtue than any other herb. Because of its rarity, beware unscrupulous merchants selling marjoram or oregano -- two related species -- as Dittany of Crete. Aleister Crowley used Dittany of Crete as an incense to help him obtain evocation to visible appearance, as a boost to his own spirit sight as well as source of magical power for the spirit.

Modern practice mostly continues upon these foundations laid by Crowley. Dittany of Crete is used as a herb to promote spirit sight. It is added to animating potions for crystal balls and scrying mirrors and burned to help spirits manifest in the dense white smoke that arises. Paul Huson’s Mastering Witchcraft suggests Dittany of Crete be mixed with the incense where “a materialization is required in the operation”. We include it in our Visions Incense and our To Call Spirits Incense for this purpose, and in various other blends to promote clairvoyance and ecstatic trance.

Additionally, Janet and Stewart Farrar, drawing on the association of the herb with the wild goats of the ancient world, include Dittany of Crete in their incense to the Goat-foot God, the Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and this recipe has been shared widely amongst modern witches. This would make a fine ingredient for your own blends devoted to the goat footed Master.

Our Dittany of Crete is ethically and organically grown on the Isle of Crete.